Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

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Jan 2, 2008 | 06:03 PM

Big Hog

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 172

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From: SOMEWHERE IN TIME

Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

I finally have come up with a plan. I'm going with progressive 412 11.5 inch rear shocks(right now I have the 13 inch stock rear shocks) and dropping my front 1 inch from stock. Has anybody done this to their Kings and is this just too low for comfort and will it bottom out. I'm 150 lbs and never give anybody rides. My old lady is 125 lbs and I may, on occassion be riding with her in the future. Any thoughts or suggestions? I could go with the Harley lowering tour shocks, but to me lowering the bike 3/4 inch for $389 bucks just doesn't seem worth it. I'd prefer the 1.5 inch drop if possible. Thanks for any suggestions or comments.

Jan 2, 2008 | 06:24 PM

SoCal_Pappy

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 4,602

Likes: 5

From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

Been there done that.... With your weights you should be OK... But remember - reducing the shock travel WILL reduce the cush for your tush.... (you'll get a stiffer ride)

Jan 2, 2008 | 06:44 PM

eglidetrike1

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 751

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From: Glenside Pa.

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

I would only drop it an inch all the way around, Inch and a half in the rear is to much. Just my two cents.

Jan 2, 2008 | 07:13 PM

JGroves

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 409

Likes: 1

From: Monterey California / Summersville WV

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

I dropped my King 1" front and rear and personally would not go any lower than that. I used air shocks on the rear and progressive springs on the front. I can't tell the difference between how the bike rides now and when it was stock but I like the way it feels when I'm sitting on it. The bike never bottoms out but after I dropped it if I enter my driveway to fast it will drag the cross member. A stock King sits right at 5.5" off the ground and mine now sits at 4.5" One additional inch of ground clearance means a lot.

Jan 2, 2008 | 07:18 PM

skratch

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 20,616

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From: anacoco, la

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: eglidetrike1

I would only drop it an inch all the way around, Inch and a half in the rear is to much. Just my two cents.

thats only a half inch lower than the customs. i put 11-1/2 progressive 440s on the rear, did not lower the front at all, i am 5'3" and am able to comfortably flat foot and push the bike around. don't have much problem with bottoming out, but it does happen occassionaly (damn louisiana roads!!!) but it is a better ride than the stock 12 inch air shocks.

Jan 2, 2008 | 07:45 PM

I am Jerry

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 805

Likes: 1

From: Rutledge, TN

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

I sent you a PM. I think you will be fine if you will mostly be 1-up. I love the ride of them.

I have a set of 11.5" 412's that I will be selling if you are interested. I bought them in the spring and have around 5k miles on them. They did fine until I bought the tour-pac. When riding 2-up with the pac I am bottoming out, it puts too much weight too far back I think. I do a lot of 2-up with the pac so I am going to go to the 12" shock. Let me know if you might want the chrome 11.5"'s

Jan 2, 2008 | 08:00 PM

big_al

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2007

Posts: 4,523

Likes: 1

From: South Florida

RE: Lowering my king... Any thoughts?

Yuo should be ok at 150 lbs riding alone.... I weight 280 lbs and my fat boy was lowered front and rear it sucked going around turns floor boards would scrape and when I hit a bump it would bottom out, would never lower a bike again.Looked awesome when parked and rode real good on the open road but I guess I am too old for that slammed thing anymore...